From fame to a car parking attendant in Lavington~Story of Shikokoti
The name Joseph Shikokoti may not ring a bell to many Kenyans, however, for the football enthusiasts, the player is well known.
Shikokoti not only played for the national team, Harambee Stars, but also played for top tier teams such as Abaluhya Football Club (A.F.C) Leopards, Ushuru, Stima, Tusker F.C, as well as Tanzania’s Yanga.
Despite all his accolades, Shikokoti’s life has taken a turn for the worst, as he currently engages in menial jobs in order to stay afloat. He now works as a security guard and car parking attendant in Lavington, Nairobi.
A 35-year-old player entailed that his life turned bleak after suffering a grave injury that led to the end of his career. Before he decided to hang up his boots, he was playing for a Sudanese team.
Thereafter, he opened a hotel business for his wife in order to make ends meet. However, the situation got worse after the pandemic hit, which led to closure of the business.
Staring at a desolate situation, Shikokoti resolved to do menial jobs in order to cater for his wife and two children.
“In every situation you have to make ends meet to cater for your family. So, a friend of mine contacted me and offered me a job as a parking attendant in Lavington. I also do other menial jobs to put food for my family,” he stated.
The former player is known for playing for the national team at both the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. He joined AFC Leopards in 2014 for a record Ksh700,000 to play as a centre back.
